FAQs for SH1 renaming

Why are you renaming State Highway 1 (SH1)?

The SH1 revocation process requires us (the Council) to rename sections of the road that currently use SH1 for address and identification purposes. The existing SH1 will become a fit-for-purpose local road and the Mackays to Peka Peka Expressway will be known as SH1.

The process of making the existing SH1 a local road is a formal process known as 'revocation' under section 103 of the Land Transport Management Act 2003. Through the revocation process the existing SH1 between Poplar Avenue and Peka Peka will lose its classification as a national highway (it can no longer be called a state highway) and responsibility for the road will be transferred from the NZ Transport Agency (the Transport Agency) to the Council.

Once the road transferred to Council, it'll be renamed under the Local Government Act 1974 section 319(1)(j).

What does revoking the existing SH1 involve?

It involves transferring ownership and maintenance responsibilities for SH1 between Poplar Avenue and Peka Peka from the Transport Agency to the Council.

Why are you proposing to rename seven sections?

Renaming SH1 is complex. Breaking the existing SH1 into seven sections was deemed the most sensible approach as it reflects the existing numbering and allows residents to keep the same street numbers for their properties. If we were to move to one road name, those people would have to renumber their properties.

The proposed seven section approach was seen as an opportunity for the community to suggest names which better reflect the local character and history of each area/part of the road. The existing sections of SH1 that have different names include Main Road South, Amohia Street, Rimutaka Street, Main Road North and Main Road.

When will the decision be made?

No decisions have been made yet. Community boards have reviewed all suggestions put forward for renaming SH1 and made their recommendations to the Council. Council will review the recommendations and make a final decision on renaming SH1 in 2019. This timeframe has changed from what was originally planned because, SH1 can't be renamed until the revocation is completed and the project has been delayed by the NZ Transport Agency, which is now expected to wind-up in late 2020.

What are the seven sections that you're proposing to rename?

Paekākāriki to Mackays Crossing*

Poplar Avenue to Kāpiti Road

Paraparaumu north to Waikanae River

Waikanae town

Waikanae to Peka Peka

Hadfield Road connection

Peka Road to Te Kowhai Road.

*We're taking the opportunity to identify a name for the section of SH1 between Paekākāriki and Mackays Crossing as it will become a local road once Transmission Gully is up and running.

Amohia Street and Rimutaka Street – it’s proposed that Amohia Street and Rimutaka Street, names which have a strong historical connection to the district, be retained. No decisions have been made at this stage.

Why do you need to rename sections that already have names?

We saw this as an opportunity to give sections of SH1 names that better reflect the local character and history of each area. We know that some people in our community would prefer for existing names to be retained and this will be taken into account as Council, working with community boards, makes a decision.

How does the renaming process work?

Renaming SH1 is a Council-led process and in early 2017 we invited the Kāpiti Coast community to have their say on possible names for seven sections of SH1. This included names identified by representatives from our district's three iwi and a local historian and options for retaining the status quo.

More than 580 people engaged in our SH1 renaming conversation and all suggestions received were assessed against the Criteria for SH1 Renaming. A short list was developed in consultation with community boards and the full council will make a final decision in late 2018 or 2019.

Once the names are agreed by the Council and responsibility for the road is transferred from the Transport Agency to Council, a formal notification process will follow. This will involve working with Land Information New Zealand, affected property owners, business operators and emergency services to ensure there is a smooth transition to the new road names and/or any numbering changes. This could take up to 24 months.

Was the community been asked to provide feedback and/or suggest possible names?

Yes. In early 2017 we invited the Kāpiti Coast community to have their say on possible names for seven sections of SH1 and more than 580 people had their say.

What will renaming SH1 cost ratepayers?

All costs associated with renaming SH1 will be met by the Transport Agency as part of our SH1 Revocation Agreement. Approximately $100,000 has been allocated by the Transport Agency to cover our staff time and any other costs associated with renaming SH1.

How was the $100,000 figure arrived at?

The value was requested by Council, and approved by the Transport Agency. The costs for carrying out this type of exercise varies from region to region, dependant of extent, complexity, and availability of resource and is agreed on a case-by-case basis.

Will funding be made available to help affected businesses and property owners' deal with changing address details?

The process of renaming SH1 is being funded by the Transport Agency as part of our SH1 Revocation Agreement. Decisions about what assistance will be available to affected businesses and property owners will be made once we have certainty around what is changing.

When will the section of the Kāpiti Expressway from Te Kowhai Road to Ōtaki be renamed?

The section of the Kāpiti Expressway from Te Kowhai Road to Ōtaki will be renamed after construction of this Expressway is completed and as part of the Peka Peka to Ōtaki SH1 revocation process.

Why did Council work with representatives of the district's three local iwi and a local historian to come up with names?

The process for renaming SH1 was agreed by Councillors in the previous triennium. The Council has a Memorandum of Partnership in place with mana whenua of the Kāpiti Coast District and in recognition of this long standing relationship, the Council felt that it was important that the community had theopportunity to consider names that have a strong historical and cultural connection to the District.

What are the names identified by representatives of the District’s three iwi and a local historian?

These are the names that have been identified by representatives/historians of the District's three iwi and a local historian as possible options for renaming sections of SH1: